Trend to holiday at home continues according to VisitEngland

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21 August 2014

VisitEngland’s Bank Holiday Trip Tracker Survey reveals today that 5.1million Brits (10% of the adult population) are planning an overnight holiday trip in the UK this August Bank Holiday weekend, with 4 million people (8%) planning on taking an overnight trip in England.

This is likely to generate some £1.2billion in tourism spend for the UK economy, £940 million of which will be spent in England.

A further 7.6 million Brits (15%) are currently undecided about whether to take an overnight trip over the Bank Holiday Weekend, with a third of those (34%) waiting to see what the weather is like. For some (29%), financial reasons are behind the reason for delaying a decision; 24% of people are just unsure about where they would like to go; 20% are waiting to see if there are any special deals or offers to take advantage of and 21 % prefer to book last minute.

In addition, 6 million people (12%) plan to take a day trip in the UK over the Bank Holiday Weekend, with another 15.7million (31%) still undecided. The seaside is the most popular destination for those planning to take a day trip (44%), followed by planning a trip to a countryside / village destination (34%), a trip to a large town or city (21%), and 18% of people planning a visit to a standalone attraction such as a theme park or stately home.

James Berresford, VisitEngland Chief Executive said: “There are 4 million Brits planning a holiday trip in England this weekend which is testament to the fantastic product on offer in England. The resulting £940million of spend likely to be generated demonstrates the importance of tourism to the UK economy. With an enormous amount going on this weekend at our world class indoor and outdoor attractions and a host of events and festivals happening across the country, there is still time to plan a last minute short break or day trip in England to enjoy, whatever the weather.”

Minister for Tourism Helen Grant said: “The bank holiday weekend is set to be a bumper one for domestic tourism, generating over £1 billion in spend for the UK economy. From city breaks to days out on the coast, world class music events to cultural trips, the UK has something for everyone to enjoy.”